Governors in Tennessee and Utah Announce Separate State Judicial Appointments

Two separate state-level judicial appointments were announced by governors' offices in Tennessee and Utah. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of William E. Phillips II to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section, on or around January 1, 2026, according to the Tennessee Governor's Office. Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced the appointment of Judge John Nielsen to serve as the next justice of the Utah Supreme Court, according to the Utah Governor's Office, in an announcement dated around the same period. The Utah appointment followed a legislative action expanding the Utah Supreme Court from five to seven justices, which the source characterized as controversial, though the specific legislative vote details, timing, and rationale for the expansion were not provided. The Tennessee appointment was described by its source as part of a broader pattern by Governor Lee in shaping the state's judiciary, though no additional details on prior appointments or their number were included. Both appointments pertain to state appellate-level courts: the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Utah Supreme Court. Both judicial appointments appear to be finalized announcements from the respective governors' offices, though neither report specifies confirmation processes, effective dates of service, or terms of office for either judge. It remains unresolved what specific qualifications, prior judicial or legal experience, or vetting processes led to the selection of Phillips or Nielsen. Additional context on the Utah court expansion, including the legislative history and reasons cited for controversy, was not detailed in the available reporting. No further next steps, such as swearing-in dates or confirmation hearings, were specified for either appointment.